Dubai, United Arab Emirates
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
AED 44,100 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* sept 2025 intake
Introduction
Course overview
The IYZ is a gateway programme providing specialist pathways into many DMU Dubai degree programmes in business, law, social science, engineering, computing, and art and design.
Each pathway's curriculum will prepare students for entry to their chosen undergraduate degree by developing their English language proficiency, study skills and specialist subject knowledge. The curriculum will also help students familiarise themselves with DMU's approaches to teaching, feedback and assessment, preparing them for the challenges of their degrees and future success.
Students will choose their destination degree when they apply for the IYZ, but can change to another programme within their chosen field if required.
Students will study English for Academic Purposes (EAP) to achieve a minimum 6.0 (6.5 for Psychology) equivalent IELTS score to progress to their degrees.
Key features
A curriculum that will offer those new to a discipline a firm foundation from which to build critical skills and the portfolio of work necessary for successful progression and entry into their chosen undergraduate programme
For students with more experience in their chosen degree discipline, the curriculum will consolidate and augment their existing knowledge and skills.
The programmes offer innovative teaching and learning, with specialist pathways into various subject areas.
The English (EAP) curriculum focuses on acquiring language skills and discipline-specific knowledge. The curriculum is unique in its design and focused on the UN Sustainability Goals (SDGs) - De Montfort University is the only higher education institution in Britain to be a global hub for one of the Sustainable Development Goals –SDG 16 to promote peace, justice and strong institutions.
The teaching staff for specialist areas will also teach about the degrees, providing IYZ students with a solid link to their destination departments and the campus. The programme leaders are experienced professionals who ensure students receive a high-quality education. They are readily available to answer any questions or concerns students may have regarding the accreditation process or the course content.
The diverse student community will provide a unique opportunity for wider networks and broader cultural perspectives during the IYZ year and its graduates' subsequent degrees and careers. This programme is a four-year option with an integrated international year zero for applicants with non-standard entry profiles.
Gallery
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
DMU Dubai offers a range of scholarships and discounts to eligible applicants, including:
Discounts
- Early Application Discounts
- Full Advance Payment Discount
- Corporate Discount
- Family Discount
- Students with Determination Discount
- Admissions Event Discounts
Scholarships and Awards
- International Year Zero Progression Award
- International Students Scholarship
- Sports Scholarship
- Community Engagement Scholarship
- Postgraduate Excellence Awards
- Alumni Scholarship
- Academic Merit Scholarship
Curriculum
Each specialist pathway has its own term 2 programme of study that finally prepares students for their chosen degree.
English for Academic Purposes Modules
It is essential that you can communicate in English and that you can understand your tutors and lectures. You will therefore study English during both terms in modules that integrate with your academic study skills and specialist pathway modules, supporting your learning and progress to your degree.
The English for Academic Purposes (EAP) module is terms 1 and 2, will develop your English language skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. This curriculum will be integrated and contextualised within a content-based syllabus, which uniquely uses the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a topical teaching framework.
Academic and Study Skills Module
This term 1 module helps students make the transition from their previous educational context to studying in British Higher Education, with particular focus placed on studying at De Montfort University. Students are provided the opportunity to practice and develop a range of academic study skills essential for successful university study, whilst supporting learner self-awareness and giving them insight into the use and effectiveness of learner platforms and academic forums.
Specialist Pathway Study Skills Modules
In term 1, all Business & Law, Engineering, Computing, and Social Science students will study a bespoke curriculum of maths and statistics that will consolidate existing knowledge and support students’ learning for their subsequent modules and their degrees. Art and Design students have different requirements and so study a separate module that introduces them to a range of technical and skills-based art and design processes that form an essential part of a shared creative practice ‘toolkit’ for Level 4 study and beyond.
Art and Design
In ‘Creative Portfolio’, students are provided with the opportunity to develop their specialist knowledge and degree specialism within the Art & Design Pathway. Project 1, Creative Brief will introduce and develop the students’ understanding of both responding to and writing creative briefs, related to their degree specialisms.
Project 2, Personal Project, is comprised of two related parts – a short essay and a personal art or design project portfolio - related to the student’s degree specialism. The essay’s research will begin alongside Project 1 to inform and contextualise their negotiated project brief in Project 2.
Business and Law
The ‘Context of Business’ gives students a broad understanding of how companies work, function, and operate. This overview will also provide knowledge of the legal contexts and accountancy requirements for businesses. We will draw upon examples from challenges executives face in the contemporary business world to illustrate the module's key points.
Throughout the module, we aim to develop a critical perspective on issues through the lens of case studies and specialist academic publications.
Computing
In ‘Problem Solving and Programming’, students will work on practical examples of computing applications, so that even with little or no prior experience with computer programming, they will begin to understand what is interesting and important about algorithms.
Students will gain an understanding of data representation, problem-solving skills and logic combined with hands-on experience of developing and executing simple programs that will prepare them to undertake the programming components at an undergraduate level using transferrable skills relevant to the principles of programming.
Engineering
The ‘Foundation Engineering Applications and Mathematics’ provides students with fundamental concepts, knowledge and skills in mathematics and engineering theory and practice necessary to study engineering at the undergraduate level. Students will develop a detailed understanding of indices, Logarithmic and Exponential Functions and their graphs. Also, Polar coordinates and differences with the Cartesian system - and matrices, including: scalar multiplication, addition and subtraction.
Further study of Determinants, multiplying matrices, inverse matrices and solving simultaneous equations will be followed by a focus on Sequences and Series, Differentiation and Integration.
Social Science
'Foundations in Psychology' introduces students to the main theoretical approaches and perspectives in psychology. Students will learn to discuss and evaluate these by applying them to everyday experiences and by considering their real-world application. The curriculum also explores how theory and research inform the different viewpoints within psychology. Furthermore, students will explore basic research methods and related topics such as ethics. The curriculum will familiarise students in five core areas, including biological, cognitive, developmental, personality, and social psychology. Students will consider how research is used to justify the claims made in psychology, whilst considering ethical principles in research.